INDIGENOUS Tiger Shane Edwards is bracing for a finals-like atmosphere in Saturday night's annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash with Essendon.

Richmond has dominated the match-up in recent times – winning the past five games over the Bombers and six of the last seven – but has lost four straight contests this year after a 5-0 start.

While Essendon is also 5-4, the Bombers are hunting three victories on the trot for the first time in nearly three years.

"The crowd is so loud (in Dreamtime games) and it's really intense early on, but we need to make sure we weather the storm and bring the pressure," Edwards said.

"They're in really good form and we saw what they did to West Coast last week.

"They've got quality players and I don't think it matters whether you miss a year or not – they're still really quality players and we're going to have to be on our best performance."

Edwards, 28, has played the past two games after missing five with a hip injury sustained late in the Tigers' round two win over Collingwood.

The opportunity to play in another Dreamtime at the 'G match – the showpiece of the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round – is one Edwards treasures.

Edwards joins Lance Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne, Zac Williams, Steven May, Daniel Wells and Cedric Cox in changing his traditional number to 67 this week, in honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Australian Referendum.

That referendum was a historic moment that saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people included in the Australian census figures.

"It's just a great week to celebrate and educate everyone in Australia," he said.

"Everyone's asking questions why players are wearing certain numbers, what this means, what that means and that just sparks an answer.

"I think that's how we educate everyone, even more than what they already are.

"Every week I’m really proud to represent the Richmond footy club, but also come Sir Doug Nicholls Round, I'm proud to represent my family and all the past and present indigenous players who've played the game."